Some of the most influential and well-known dancers were men: Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly…the list goes on and on. Despite the common stereotype, dance class is not just for girls! Dance is a physical and athletic activity requiring great skill, strength, and agility. Sounds like an ideal fit for energetic boys! To be a dancer is to be an athlete. With the popularity of shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars, more boys are taking dance classes than ever before, however the majority of classes still tend to be comprised of primarily females. Boys are instead encouraged to participate in more “masculine” sports as an outlet for their energies. The irony is that dancing is just as physically and mentally demanding as football or soccer…perhaps even more of a challenge!It is incredibly important that we begin to eliminate the perception that dancing is a “girls only” activity. Boys who are kept out of dance class are actually missing out on valuable life skills!

Benefits of Dancing for Boys:Dance Training Improves Discipline and Study Habits!Dance class requires students to follow an instructor’s directions and focus on new skills. Boys learn the importance of repetition and practice as they work hard towards meeting goals and successfully completing new steps. The discipline learned in dance classes can also help boys to focus on their academics and build study habits for school. Dancing teaches boys not only how to use their feet, but how to use their brains as well!

Dance Training Teaches Respect and Grace!We’ve all heard the saying “boys will be boys,” however dancing is a great way to begin shaping boys into young men. Physically, dance improves posture, teaching boys how to stand up straight and move with masculine grace and sophistication. Socially, dance class shows boys how to respect other people. Following a teacher’s instructions teaches students how to respect authority. Participating in performances and even in class shows boys how to cooperate with others and work as a team!

Dance Training Boosts Self Confidence!Dancing is not only fun, but can also cater to the competitive nature that many boys are born with. Boys feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when they master a new routine or skill, and this is a great way to boost self-esteem! Learning how to move to music is very satisfying to a young boy, and provides an outlet for self-expression, leading to an improved sense of self and confidence.

Dance Training Improves Athletic Performance!A little known fact is that many NFL players have cross-trained in ballet in order to improve their performance on the football field. Well-known players such as Vance Johnson and Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swann have even credited some of their success to their ballet classes, demonstrating that dance is not for "feminine" boys...it is fit for manly men! Dance improves overall body fitness, including flexibility, agility, muscle tone, balance, and endurance. As an aerobic exercise, dance improves heart health, allowing boys to run, jump and play for extended periods of time without tiring, whether on the dance floor or on a field.

As you can see, the benefits of dance for boys extend far beyond the ability to leap or turn. If the young man in your life expresses an interest in dance classes…try it out! Whether your little boy tries out tap, ballet, or hip-hop…he’ll have a blast while picking up a variety of life skills along the way!-BRITTANY WHITE

Once you lace up your pointe shoes, there's nothing like the high of becoming one with the music. Everything else in the world fades away when the music begins. Your breathing coincides with each graceful movement, as your feet whisk you away across the dance floor. Like “The Nutcracker,” every dance to a dancer seems like a magical fairytale… and we get to dance it.

Croise devant, demi plié and arabesque may seem like foreign terms to outsiders, but to dancers, these moves are within a beautiful language all their own. Dance is not just a hobby or passion… it's a lifestyle.From tiny tutus to the big leagues, we've danced our hearts out on stage in gorgeous leotards and costumes; we've dealt with all sorts of blisters on our feet. The irreplaceable memories that have gotten us to where we are today show that the battle scars are well worth it. Within the elegance of being a dancer, it's also an extreme workout.

Any dancer will tell whoever thinks dancing is not a sport that they’re completely wrong and encourage them to try dancing in our shoes for a day. Professional dancer Shanna LaFleur once said:It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.

Dancers grew up with each choreographed number being a magnificent work of art — the stage as their palette and each move, a vibrant color. In addition to harnessing creativity, dance is an outlet to alleviate daily stresses and bring so much happiness to those who embrace it. It's an incredible escape from reality, where you can lose yourself in the movements. There's actually research that proves people who grew up as dancers are less stressed and happier.

According to Prevention, Swedish researchers conducted a study involving 112 female teens. Each of the girls was dealing with back and neck pain, anxiety, depression or stress. Half of the studied teenagers were involved in dance classes each week, while the other half of the girls did not attend classes. The results were very positive for the teens who incorporated dancing into their weekly routines. Mental health was improved for these girls, and it was also reported they experienced a mood boost.In a press release, lead study author Anna Dubert stated, “…dance can result in high adherence and a positive experience for the participants.”

Prevention goes on to say it's never too late to benefit from dancing, and you don't even have to be a prima ballerina to reap its rewards. Enrolling in ballet, modern or lyrical classes after work/on the weekend is a great way to incorporate dancing into your life. And soon enough, you'll be twirling down the pathway to happiness.

Psychology Today says dancing makes you happier than simply hitting up the gym or going for a run. A study conducted at the University of London involved patients dealing with anxiety disorders. They dedicated time to one of the following therapeutic environments: an exercise class, a modern-dance class, a math class or a music class. Out of all the settings, the modern-dance class was the one environment that reduced anxiety a significant amount.​Author Vicki Baum once said: There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.Another benefit of dancing frequently is that it stimulates the mind and sharpens cognitive skills at every age. Dancing stimulates different brain activities at the same time, including emotional, rational, kinesthetic and musical. This increases the way your brain functions in a positive way. Imagine that, a fun activity with a wealth of health benefits that keeps us in shape, makes us feel good and makes us smarter!I’m a dancer, and I have done it all: ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, Irish, hip-hop and plain-old rocking it on the dance floor. I have to say, I agree 100 percent with the conducted research. Dancing has all of these benefits and so much more.​

Hopkins-Greene, here with Glenn Allen Sims in Chroma, uses the fourth wall to help her focus. Photo by Paul Kolnik, courtesy Ailey.

How to become the kind of performer audiences can’t take their eyes off of.

After countless hours in rehearsal, the stage can sometimes feel like a foreign country. Mirrors are replaced with blackness, your periphery is filled with light, and the floors, spacing and even the rosin feel different. Suddenly the variation you’d mastered in the studio is shaky and your performance falls short of everything you’d accomplished in rehearsal.Performing is a skill of its own, and great dancers are not always great performers. It takes a particular kind of confidence to share yourself onstage and relax into your body when the pressure is on. But by working on their performance skills, dancers can grow beyond what was possible without an audience.

Shake Your Nerves Dancers who flourish under the spotlight typically focus on the work itself rather than outcomes like audience reactions, reviews or possible promotions.Because such results are beyond your control, fixating on them can zap your confidence and exacerbate nerves, explains Dr. Jim Taylor, psychologist and co-author of Dance Psychology for Artistic and Performance Excellence. When those thoughts take over, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Demetia Hopkins-Greene practices deep breathing to calm down and slow her heart rate. “I focus on my goal for that performance: What’s my role? What am I trying to convey?” she says. She forces herself to stay in the moment and shifts her mind-set to revel in the blackness of the fourth wall, rather than worrying about all the people on the other side. Other dancers learn to use their nerves to their advantage: If you can channel that adrenaline into controlled energy (while staying present), it can give you an extra boost. “Enjoy the butterflies,” suggests Houston Ballet II ballet master and coach Claudio Muñoz. “It’s the best part of the performance.”

Discover Your Ideal Prep Whether you always listen to a certain song backstage or a put on a “lucky” pair of mukluks, there may be more power in your backstage routines than you think. “Great performers and athletes are meticulous in their preparation,” Taylor says. That means your makeup, hair and warm-up are all thoughtfully done on a schedule that makes you comfortable. “Consistency of preparation leads to consistency of performance,” he says.

Hopkins-Greene, here with Glenn Allen Sims in Chroma, uses the fourth wall to help her focus. Photo by Paul Kolnik, courtesy Ailey. The trick is finding what makes you feel comfortable enough to open up and be vulnerable onstage. Dancers with an internal-focus style often need space and quiet to get into that zone—you’ll find them off in a corner with earbuds in, avoiding eye contact. But others, says Taylor, will begin to stress and self-criticize if they overthink things, so they might need to spend their prep time blasting silly pop music and laughing with friends. Either way, get into performance mode from the moment you start warming up. “Don’t wait until you’re onstage,” says musical theater choreographer and performer Al Blackstone. “Immediately during pliés, be as present as possible, actually look at your hand, engage with the space around you, project energy. Then you won’t have to make a huge shift once it’s time to perform.” Positive imagery should also be part of every dancer’s backstage prep. Studies have shown that visualization can have a real effect on how our muscles behave. Imagining your ideal performance can help embed it in your muscle memory before you go on. “I’ll visualize doing the steps successfully rather than focusing on the time that I fell out of the pirouette,” says Pacific Northwest Ballet principal Lesley Rausch. During the rehearsal period, go through your choreography mentally at least three times per week so that visualization feels natural come opening night.

Watch Your Body Language The way you hold your posture can affect how an audience perceives you on a subliminal level, says Jennie Morton, an osteopath and former dancer.For example, by curling your stomach inward while pushing your chin up in a slumping position, you are communicating that you are afraid, whether intentionally or not. Similarly, elevated shoulders or tension in the neck and arms can denote a lack of confidence. “The audience will be waiting for something to go wrong because they don’t feel comfortable watching you,” says Morton. “For an audience to connect to a performer emotionally, trust has to be established.” Of course, these postures can be a choreographic or dramatic choice. But otherwise, Morton suggests aiming for neutral alignment—particularly focusing on your pelvic position—to give your body language greater authority.

Find Your Way Into the RoleWhen Hopkins-Greene was cast in the title role of Matthew Rushing’s Odetta last year, she was intimidated to depict the iconic singer known as the voice of the civil rights movement.But once she found herself in the role, she shined. “I can’t be Odetta,” she says, “but I can tell you what I feel from Odetta. I can show you how I see this woman.”

Claudia Muñoz coaches dancers to approach performances the same as rehearsals. Photo by Cameron Durham, courtesy Houston Ballet Academy. Blackstone says that performers who struggle with being expressive onstage can improve by digging even deeper into the material. “Talk to the choreographer, ask yourself questions about the character and how you want the audience to feel,” he suggests. “Performance is about communication—how can you have a great conversation if you don’t know what it is you’re trying to say?” Based on your interpretation, discover places in the choreography to play with your energy and focus, and find those moments when you can feed off other performers onstage by making eye contact. “Take those moments when you’re not engaging straight out to the audience to look down or over your shoulder or at your partner,” says Blackstone. Not only will this give your dancing more nuance, but it will leave you more energy to give to the audience when you are sending it out in their direction.

Don’t Aim For PerfectionBecause the stakes are high in performance, dancers tend to put more pressure on themselves. “When I was younger I felt this sense of needing to be perfect technically in my performance,” says Rausch. She’s not alone. But this approach can backfire, aggravating stage fright and leaving dancers unprepared to bounce back from the inevitably imperfect moments in a performance. When coaching dancers for competition, Muñoz tells them to approach it just like they do every day in the studio. “If they’re good, they’re going to win anyway.” A performance is not the time to try for an extra rotation in your turns; simply execute what you know you can do and remain open to what comes onstage. Strive for excellence rather than perfection, advises Taylor. “Excellence still sets the bar incredibly high, but it takes away the pressure of having to be perfect.” ​Be HumanSo what is that sparkle? The je ne sais quoi that makes certain dancers seem magical onstage? Simply put, it’s you. “The dancers that I enjoy watching the most are the ones who are very comfortable with who they are outside of the studio because they allow themselves to be that person onstage, too,” says Rausch. Watch other dancers to see what it is about their performances that you respond to. And replay videos of yourself performing to see how you’re coming across, whether you look comfortable in your own skin. “With performers, their whole identity can be wrapped up with their label as a dancer,” says Morton. “It’s those who manage to retain their humanity, that connection with the self, that find it more natural to be expressive.” Make time for activities and friends that help you stay in touch with all the quirks and oddities that make you uniquely you. And once you’re in front of the footlights, don’t hold anything back.

In the following video trailer for Nelson George’s documentary A Ballerina’s Tale, Misty Copeland—who in June became the first black principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater—talks about the familiar feeling of isolation in an arts industry not always known for its inclusion. “I’m a black dancer,” says Copeland in the clip. “That’s who I am. It’s so much a part of my story.” The film, which hits theaters on October 14, takes a closer look at her obsession with dance since age 13 and her now historic status in the ballet world, including her well-known struggles. “Based on my body type, pedigree and background, I should not have been part of one of the world’s greatest ballet companies,” she says. Gracefully, she’s proved all these preconceptions wrong.

Why Dance?The number of people taking part in dance classes world wide is increasing, with dance allowing people to be more active, socialise within local communities and develop creative skills.There are numerous benefits to partaking in dance classes ranging from increasing your amount of daily exercise to making new friends with shared interests. In the European Union the weekly exercise targets for children are currently set at a minimum of 1 hour per day for children and at least 30 minutes, five times a week, for adults. Although these targets may look daunting at first, they can easily be met by attending dance classes. Some of the benefits to increasing the amount of exercise you do are; reduced stress levels, improved relaxation, stronger bones and muscles and help to control body weight.Dance also offers an activity for people who may not consider themselves as ‘sporty’. The benefit of dance is not only that of increased exercise, but the participation in an art form, which is routed in technique, and giving the opportunity for a creative outlet.Dance can also open new opportunities in terms of careers. The entertainment industry is vast, employing an estimated 30,000 in dance related roles in the UK alone. There are numerous professions in dance from dancing, teaching, choreography or dance notation. In addition to this, people work in the dance industry as; community dance practitioners, promoters, producers, designers, publicists, technicians, physiotherapists, medical and alternative practitioners, therapists, writers and academics.The skills developed in dance can also be valuable transferable skills that can be applied to any career path. The confidence gained through achievements in dance helps to build social skills, increase self esteem and the ability to communicate well in a group. These skills once built up through partaking in dance can lead to a variety of career routes.Taking the first step can be the hardest, but by using this site to find qualified teachers, you can be assured of high quality of training.Ten reasons to participate

Dance keeps both the body and the brain active, vital for people of every age

Dance offers a way to improve strength and flexibility, which helps keeps muscles and joints healthy

Choosing to start a new hobby can help you meet new people and make friends with people who have similar interests

Your child is busy, taking hours of dance class per week, and you are wondering, “Is all of this money going toward the right things? Is my budding dancer getting what he or she needs for the best value?”When you have a child in dance, you pledge your own resources to the process and it makes sense that you want to make sure these resources are not going to waste.

Something has value when what you get out is equal to or greater than what you put in. Reward ≥ Dedication (of time, of funds, of spirit, of motivation, of thought, etc.)

The “bad” news?The return on value is not always immediate, particularly in dance. Rewards can come much later so it can be hard to tell if you are getting value. That’s why I think so many parents ask the questions above.The good news? Good value is measurable, even in the moment, if you know what your values are.What is valuable to you? Dance is a treasure chest of riches to be unlocked. Even if your child never steps foot into a dance studio again after high school, it is likely he’ll have received something from the experience. Potentially, these could be valuable life lessons.Take some time to determine what you and your child want to get out of dance beyond any professional aspirations. Then, reflect on your child’s dance program and schedule based on these standards. For instance, if self-discipline is something you value, assess if the school encourages and expects dancers to focus and make choices. If it’s creativity, make sure your school provides opportunities for dancers to participate in the creative process. Look at the wider scope of rewards in dance when you evaluate and you’ll have a better idea if you are putting your money where it really matters for you.Quantity – How much is valuable? At a dance studio it is easy to get caught up in quantity. There are a buffet of different dance styles from which to choose. These have the potential to be enriching experiences for your child, no doubt. But they can begin to accumulate, each one seeming to be crucial (and expensive) pieces to a puzzle.In this quest for fulfilling every need with more classes, more awards, and more performances, the importance of other rewards is underestimated. Perhaps sensing a gap or void, parents begin to wonder how many, or which of these puzzle pieces are really necessary.But it isn’t about the number really. Nor is about having all the “right” pieces.What matters is that each piece is considered before it is placed, works toward your child’s current goals and interests, and is supported by a solid foundation of quality training and true enthusiasm for movement and the art of dance.Quality – What is valuable in dance? Dance parents can get into a mindset in which all the decisions made about a child’s classes are bent on best preparing their young dancer for that maybe, what-if chance that he or she wants a career someday. This too neglects the other valuables dance has to offer.If your child definitely has aims to become a professional or if you are concerned that they might one day, consider this:I’ve never heard a college professor or choreographer or critic lament that a dancer just didn’t take enough classes, or win enough awards, or perform enough as a kid.I have witnessed disappointment in the training and technique a dancer has received. Clearly the focus is on quality not quantity.Quality vs. Quantity Granted, when we talk about quality dance training, quantity does come up. Standard estimates for what is considered “enough” technique to progress to certain levels of training do exist. You may have a better understanding of how training (the course of techniques learned) differs from having experiences in a variety of dance styles.The ability to adapt to many different dance forms comes only when there is good training and technique to build upon.Denise Wall, studio owner (and mother of Travis Wall and Danny Tidwell) says she never wanted to own her own studio, but after teaching in studios where success was measured more by enrollment and retention than by students’ improvement, she changed her mind. “Unless you own your own studio, you cannot control curriculum,” she says. “I would rather be poor than sacrifice technique.”That dedication to quality, rather than quantity has helped Denise Wall’s children and students find success in the dance world.Bottom line: When you make a commitment to quality over quantity and aim for experiences that support your child’s goals and values, you can almost always feel confident that your investment (whatever that is) is going to have great returns for your child.Find a studio devoted to quality instruction of techniques and training. It may not always be the least expensive option. It may not always be the most expensive option, either. But it will be the most bang for your buck: the better value.Abide by your own commitment to quality when considering the addition of classes or other expenses (or how much dance your child is taking).danceadvantage.net

1. Love DanceTeachers view dance as a gift and want you to experience that too. Dance is both a gift to you and your gift to the world. Enjoy it. 2. Push YourselfContinue learning and keep striving to be a tiny bit better each day. No one is expecting you to whip out eighteen fouettes the day after you learn them. The key to reaching your dreams is to push yourself a little further each day. 3. Be ConfidentPut your best self forward and always train to your capacity. Remember that you love dance for a reason and you are doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. Relax in the thought that it is no accident you found dance and just enjoy what you love. 4. Don’t Play it SafeTry new things. Don’t just stick with the same style or over train in one area of dance. Being a versatile, well-rounded dancer will be helpful in your future dance career, plus it will help you reach new limits in your favorite style. 5. TeamworkBe a good teammate. Dancers need each other for support in such a competitive world. You don’t need to cut down someone else to be a great dancer yourself. 6. Accept CorrectionsAccept corrections as a way to improve your dancing. Your teachers want your dancing to continue to grow and progress. 7. Be CreativeDon’t be afraid to try things that have never been done before. Using your creativity in dance will also translate into other areas in your life. Expressing your creativity will allow you to find new, innovative ways to do things and solve problems. 8. Appreciate Your BodyYou have a unique body and are lucky to be able to use it for dance. Instead of wanting longer legs, a smaller stomach, or better feet, try focusing on what you are blessed with. Thinking about what you CAN do instead of what you can’t will have a huge impact on both your dancing and your day-to-day life. 9. Dance is ArtRemember that dance is an ART form. Dance is about artistry and expression, not a bunch of tricks put together. 10. PerspectivePut dance into perspective of the big picture. Don’t forget that you are MORE than a dancer. You are not defined by dance and dance alone. You have amazing gifts to offer that reach beyond your talents as a dancer.

Between soccer and scouts, your school-age kid's schedule is loaded with fun activities. If you're on the fence about adding music classes to the list, take note of the benefits that come with signing your little one up for violin or piano lessons. Maybe she won't be the next Beethoven, but she may have an easier time learning math, practicing good manners (including patience!), and becoming a team player. Read on to learn more about the benefits of music education.

It improves academic skills.Music and math are highly intertwined. By understanding beat, rhythm, and scales, children are learning how to divide, create fractions, and recognize patterns. It seems that music wires a child's brain to help him better understand other areas of math, says Lynn Kleiner, founder of Music Rhapsody in Redondo Beach, CA. As kids get older, they'll start reciting songs, calling on their short-term memory and eventually their long-term memory. Using a mnemonic device to do this is a method that can later be applied to other memory skills, says Mary Larew, Suzuki violin teacher at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, Connecticut. Musical instrument classes also introduce young children to basic physics. For instance, plucking the strings on a guitar or violin teaches children about harmonic and sympathetic vibrations. Even non-string instruments, such as drums and the vibraphone, give big kids the opportunity to explore these scientific principles.

It develops physical skills.Certain instruments, such as percussion, help children develop coordination and motor skills; they require movement of the hands, arms, and feet. This type of instrument is great for high-energy kids, says Kristen Regester, Early Childhood Program Manager at Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago. String and keyboard instruments, like the violin and piano, demand different actions from your right and left hands simultaneously. "It's like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time," Regester says. Instruments not only help develop ambidexterity, but they can also encourage children to become comfortable in naturally uncomfortable positions. Enhancing coordination and perfecting timing can prepare children for other hobbies, like dance and sports.

It cultivates social skills.Group classes require peer interaction and communication, which encourage teamwork, as children must collaborate to create a crescendo or an accelerando. If a child is playing his instrument too loudly or speeding up too quickly, he'll need to adjust. It's important for children to know and understand their individual part in a larger ensemble, Regester says. Music Rhapsody offers general music education classes, in which teachers split students into groups and assign each child a task. Whether a team is responsible for choosing instruments or creating a melody, students work toward a common goal. "These are the kinds of experiences we have in society," Kleiner says. "We need more group interaction and problem solving."

It refines discipline and patience.Learning an instrument teaches children about delayed gratification. The violin, for example, has a steep learning curve. Before you can make a single sound, you must first learn how to hold the violin, how to hold the bow, and where to place your feet, Larew says. Playing an instrument teaches kids to persevere through hours, months, and sometimes years of practice before they reach specific goals, such as performing with a band or memorizing a solo piece. "Private lessons and practicing at home require a very focused kind of attention for even 10 minutes at a time," Larew says. Group lessons, in which students learn to play the same instruments in an ensemble, also improve patience, as children must wait their turn to play individually. And in waiting for their turns and listening to their classmates play, kids learn to show their peers respect, to sit still and be quiet for designated periods of time, and to be attentive.

It boosts self-esteem.Lessons offer a forum where children can learn to accept and give constructive criticism. Turning negative feedback into positive change helps build self-confidence, Regester says. Group lessons, in particular, may help children understand that nobody, including themselves or their peers, is perfect, and that everyone has room for improvement. "Presenting yourself in public is an important skill whether you become a professional musician or not," Larew says. This skill is easily transferrable to public speaking, she adds. And, of course, once a child is advanced enough, she'll possess musical skills that will help her stand out.

It introduces children to other cultures.By learning about and playing a variety of instruments, kids can discover how music plays a critical role in other cultures. For instance, bongos and timbales may introduce children to African and Cuban styles of music. Although the modern-day violin has roots in Italy, learning to play it exposes children to classical music popularized by German and Austrian musicians. Versatile instruments, such as the violin and piano, can accompany a wide repertoire of styles, including classical and jazz (which originated in the American South). It's important to familiarize children with other cultures at a young age because this fosters open-mindedness about worlds and traditions beyond the ones they know.

What to Consider When Selecting an InstrumentUltimately, the instrument you and your child choose should depend on a number of factors. Here's a list of questions to consider before bringing home a new music maker:

Is your child excited about the instrument? Does she like the way it sounds and feels? Some music schools offer a "petting zoo" that introduces kids to multiple instruments.

Is the instrument too challenging or is it not challenging enough (for both you and your child)?

Does your child's temperament match the instrument?

Can you afford the instrument and the maintenance that comes with it?

As a parent, do you like the sound enough to listen to your child practice it for hours at home?

Is your child specifically interested in a particular music style? If so, factor that into your instrument choice, as some specifically cater to certain styles. For instance, a violin player will have a hard time fitting in a jazz ensemble.

Experts don't always agree on which instruments are best for big kids to learn, but many music teachers do agree that it's hard to go wrong with the piano, percussion (like the drum or xylophone), recorder, guitar, or violin.

We are teaching your daughters to take up space. We are asking them to stretch out, to stand tall, to open their arms like wings. We are asking them to move large. To be enormous. To spread out. We are asking them to move from one corner to another in three steps. If this carries over into their life at home, just know that we encouraged it. It may mean they spread all their belongings out all over the house. It may mean they sprawl out on the couch so that no one else may sit. You have every right to ask them to clean up and share space, but just know that they may have gotten the idea from us and we think it's just grand that they're listening.

We are asking your daughters to make noise. We are encouraging them to raise their voice. To scream with joy. To pound the floor with their feet. To ask questions. To be heard. To sing with the music. To hum out loud. To say their steps while they do them. We are teaching them to question things when they don't understand what's happening in their body. We are giving them permission to speak. We hope that you do the same at home. Questions may arise about their body, about being female, or about situations in life that they don't agree with or understand. We encouraged that. We encouraged them to sing in the shower and to tap while they're on the toilet. We just want you to know, we're doing everything we can to keep them from being silent.

We are telling your daughters to eat. We are teaching them that dancers are athletes, and athletes need fuel. We are teaching them that energy is required for every movement – even a simple pose. We are teaching them that food provides energy and that no one has the right to tell them otherwise. If your dance teacher is telling your daughter what to eat, or telling them not to eat, then I need you to think twice about where your daughter is taking her lessons. If you need any incentive to pull your daughter from an abusive teacher, please visit my personal blog where my story along with countless others will convince you there is more to life for your daughter than a teacher who tries to control her diet or weight.

We are showing your daughter that dance is a love for life. Good teachers teach technique and choreography. Great teachers pass along the love for dance. Technique is important, absolutely. Choreography is beautiful and crucial to building stamina. But the love of dance is the key that holds it all together. We want your daughter to dance for the rest of her life – whether it's one Zumba class a week while she's the CEO of a major corporation or it's eight shows a week on a Broadway stage. We want her to know that dance can be the medicine that keeps us healthy, regardless if it ends up being our career or not. So please, we beg of you, do not ask her to keep still as she tap dances down the cereal aisle. Please, do not ask her to stop stretching in front of the television. Please, let her move and wiggle and dance every single minute that her body lets her.

And finally, we are teaching your daughter that beauty is so much more than what she sees in the mirror. We are teaching your daughter the beauty in a strong calf muscle built after years of ballet class. We are teaching your daughter the beauty of inner confidence when she walks into an audition room and has that fleeting thought of, do I belong here? We are teaching your daughter the beauty of a simple hand movement, of a wink, of a smile. The beauty of feeling the ground beneath her as she taps out her stressful day. The gorgeousness of teamwork, of perseverance, of self-expression. And we are teaching her how beautiful it is to be herself. To love herself, as she is, regardless of her glasses, or her belly, or her frizzy hair. Because no one, and I mean no one, should be telling her that any of those things are anything but beautiful. Because they are part of her. And that means they are perfect.

That's what we are teaching. We are teaching your daughters how to roar. Loudly and unapologetically. And that's what I hope your dance teachers are teaching your children too. If they are not, I want you to seriously consider a switch, and feel free to contact me to talk about it. Because your daughters deserve nothing less than these things every time they step into that studio. This is what will change the next generation, and this is what I wish I would have had when I was your daughter's age.

I promise to continue teaching all these things. All I ask is that even on her noisiest, messiest, craziest day, you remember that she's only trying on for size, the lessons that we are passing on each week. Whenever you can let her be 100% herself, with complete freedom, without apology, you are breaking the mold and changing the future for your daughter. And I for one, am so proud to be a part of that.